Ask the Naked Scientists

How does the heat shield protect the Artemis II astronauts on their return to Earth? What caused the craters on the Moon? Can the materials in cooking pots cause poisoning? What is seasickness? Can space missions take place during periods of high solar activity? And what propels spacecraft? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why some people can't say their Rs; why is perception of time so context dependent; what's the nutritional value of long life milk; what determines how tall we are; why do some mirrors make you look a strange shape; why to take care with magnesium supplements to avoid explosive diarrhoea; how can fish swap between fresh and salt water environments; and why doesn't the stomach digest itself? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

On this week's show, why dogs don't live as long as humans. Also, why do we feel cold when our skin is warm to the touch? Do we all see colours the same way? Do animals experience embarrassment? If photons head towards two small slits, do they only pass through one slit or both? Why does the Middle East have an abundance of oil? And why are our taste buds affected when we have a fever? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week Clarence Ford and Dr Chris discuss NASA's DART mission to defect an asteroid, why we can't tickle ourselves, whether lung capacity affects the heart, if white skin transplanted to a black person changes colour, why some people are more ticklish than others, how scientists are able to read ancient DNA codes, why the sea is salty, and what triggers seizures? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week, Dr Chris Smith and Sara Jayne Makwala King get to the bottom of IBS, why women living together often synchronise menstrual cycles, why we get a sudden falling sensation when dropping off to sleep sometimes, and if Earth suddenly stopped spinning, what would happen first? Also, are the faces that crop up in our dreams real people we've seen before, or has our brain created people that don't actually exist? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this week's show, how scientists discover Russia's use of frog neurotoxin epibatidine to kill political opponent Alexei Navalny, why some people are more vulnerable to dental problems, why does a full bladder make me feel sick, how is gum disease linked to heart disease, where do the clouds surrounding Table Mountain go, and what is the evolutionary advantage of golf? Plus, can science and religion co-exist? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How did life on Earth begin? Why is glass clear when sand is opaque? What is foot-and-mouth disease? Why do some people's accents change when they emigrate? What is trigeminal neuralgia? What is decided before drug trials take place? What's the difference between colloidal silver and quantum silver? Is Lyme disease contagious? And are we gaining or losing mass on planet Earth? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do animals enjoy views like we do? Why are some elephants born without tusks? Why do some people pass out on roller coasters? Is there a cure for dizziness? Can the brain recover if you stop drinking alcohol? Why is there a difference between the way that dogs and humans metabolise food? Did hallucinogens play a role in human evolution? Is a heart murmur a side effect of an overactive thyroid? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is consciousness? What is the Nipah virus? What is an induced coma? Is there an official scale for pain? Can you think yourself better? How can you make plasma? And how do you prevent a dog's pee from turning your lawn brown? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disc? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disk? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disk? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does knocking your elbow unleash a distinctive "funny bone" jolt? Are we born with a sense of thirst? What are we seeing when we see things glow under ultraviolet? Why do our minds cling tightly to bad experiences? How do phones see the Northern Lights, even when we cannot? And do the planets in our solar system all move in the same direction? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Should we pull the plug on AI? Is talent inherited? Do other mammals have prostate glands? How closely have we studied the bones of fish? If nothing sticks to Teflon, then how does it stick to the pan? Do flames cast a shadow? Can some animals see colours better than humans do? Why are our brains more efficient than AI? And why do mosquitoes buzz on arrival if they don't want to be heard? Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Does a USB stick, or a mobile phone, weigh more once it's filled with data? What's the placebo effect, and how does it work? How does the human papilloma virus (HPV) cause disease, and how can the HPV vaccine and male circumcision protect you from cervical cancer and HIV? Does Cape Town face two oceans? Can Brazil nut proteins be present in semen and trigger subsequent anaphylaxis in a sexual partner? And what can we do about post-herpetic neuralgia causes by shingles (VZV)? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Today, Chris Smith tackles a whole host of health-related questions. We explore the impact of a meat-based diet, whether it's a good idea to drink fizzy pop after vigorous exercise, why we weigh less in the morning, if it's ever advisable to spend too much time talking to chatbots, and whether working from home weakens our immune systems... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week, Chris Smith and Clarence Ford tackle the big science questions of the week, including how to perform a circumcision safely; can our eyes pop out when we sneeze; how do general anaesthetics work and do we understand consciousness; is violence inherent to society; do antibiotics kill probiotics; and what would happen to us if the world suddenly stopped spinning?! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do dogs make a beeline for underwear and smelly socks? Also, do we really get taller at night, why do some colours reflect and others absorb light, does our skin get thinner as we age, and what's the basis of lisps and accents? Dr Chris Smith and Amy Maciver have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are any people particularly susceptible to alopecia-linked hair loss? Also, what causes eczema and why does it keep recurring, why are the progeny of different species infertile, why does hair go grey but not always symmetrically, and Is asthma a risk factor for bronchitis? Plus, are zebras actually black with white stripes, or white with black stripes?! Join Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford to Ask the Naked Scientist... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In Ask! the Naked Scientists, Dr Chris Smith answers listeners' medical questions. This time, what causes a black eye? How can we alleviate the pain from a trapped nerve? How can you best stop severe bleeding? Why is sickle cell anaemia more common in Africa? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is an elephant really a close relative of a hyrax? What are blood groups? Is there really such a thing as a selfish gene? How did males and females evolve? What makes us feel sleepy? And how can chickenpox be lethal? Join Dr Chris and Clarence Ford as we ask the Naked Scientist! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are some people missing arm muscles? Are there other muscles that we're losing? Can bats and moles actually see? Can the side effects of prostate surgery be reversed? Is there a cure for Dupuytren's contracture? Do we know what long COVID is? What are bluebottle jellies? Can we protect our food from microplastics? Should you get a rabies check after every dog bite? Dr Chris Smith and Saskia Falken have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What happens to helium balloons that float away? Are satellites safe from terrorist attacks? Why does the truth hurt? Why does some poo float after flushing? Are there any treatments for tinnitus? Do headphones contribute to tinnitus? What are restless legs? What is the best way to regulate cortisol levels? Why does the body wake us up to wee? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does La Nina cause more rainfall in South Africa? How can we keep our skin moist without buying products? Is it possible to be averse to iron in your diet? What causes hot flushes during the menopause? What could cause a potential iron taste in my mouth? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

It's another jam-packed episode of Ask the Naked Scientist, illuminating listener questions - in all their usual, rich variety - with fascinating scientific explanations. What do we know about the latest interstellar objects to pass through our Solar System? Is having a great memory all upside? Why does eating pineapple hurt the inside of your mouth? Do waves really come in sets of seven? Does silver have antibiotic properties? Is there a limit to the number of pop songs that can be written? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this episode of Ask the Naked Scientist: is it possible to teleport atoms? Does garlic repel mosquitoes? What is vaginal thrush? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In today's episode of Ask! Dr Chris answers: why do some people attract more mosquitoes than others? Is there a link between sweating and sour tastes? What causes nasal polyps to form in the nose? Is Covid still around? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this episode of Ask, if the universe is expanding, what's it expanding into? What's the relationship between descended testes and the chance of having children? Why does more urine come out when I stand rather than sit on the loo? How do surgeons join the cut ends of a colon together? At what age is it suitable to start taking creatine supplements? Why do I wake up in the middle of the night? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

On Ask! the Naked Scientist this week: What led to the 'leopard spots' found on Mars? What is the purpose of finger and toe nails? How do bone conduction headphones work? Why do non-magnetic metals sometimes interact with magnetic objects? What role did our teeth play in our evolution? What's the cause of my unintended weight loss? Could astronauts create an environment for life on Mars? What's wrong with a pear shape? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is it dangerous to have floaters in your eye? Can you power a lamp with your mouth? Are nations in the global north more innovative than nations in the global south? How can you control your phobias? How do leap years come about? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is the flipping of Earth's magnetic field a concern? Why might half-filled ice cube trays freeze faster? Why does sex make you sleepy? Why might you get an 'electric shock' from moving your head? Is nicotine addictive? Why does scratching an itch feel so good? Why do we have different blood groups? What are statins? Could we ever see the dark side of the moon? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris answers listener questions including: do men and women have an equal chance of getting sports injuries? What health benefits can a sugar free diet bring? Why does my sock shift around my foot at night? How should we navigate testosterone levels in women's sport? How can we treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Is 'biowater' a marketing gimmick? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris is back to answer listener questions. Why do cat's eyes reflect bright colours? What are the short, high pitched ringing noises that can sometimes be heard? What causes Bell's palsy? Will botox help keep my eyelid up? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do animals feel fear the same way that we do? Do diet supplements boost your immune systems? Can using phones and headphones change the shape of your body? Why don't birds get electrocuted on pylons? Is the northern hemisphere more 'innovative' than the south? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris takes on more listener questions. Including: is Chinese medicine separate from Western medicine? Why do we sometimes cry in response to feelings of sadness and joy? Why do I have a blotch in my vision after looking directly at a light source? Why do kids cry when they get injured, but adults less so? What happens if I scratch a mosquito bite? What is the relationship between science and religion. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The questions keep coming for Dr Chris. This week they include: have scientists got their hands on the oldest ice ever studied? Does putting the air conditioning on too high or low make you ill? What factors contribute to chronic mental illness? How do you reduce puffiness under the eyes? Can cold weather make healed operation sites sore again? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this episode of Ask! Dr Chris is asked: what is ivermectin? Are sodium ion batteries a rival to lithium? Is the Earth spinning slightly faster? Why do we warn against using phones around petrol stations? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do we have another comet visiting from outside the solar system? What is Oumuamua? Is the Ring of Fire amping up in activity? Is leukaemia genetic? Does exposure to certain chemicals increase your risk of cancer? Why are early health screenings so important? How do you measure the risk of certain health treatments? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does cold water take your breath away? And why is it cold when you leave the cold water? What smells does an ant produce? Is there a psychological aspect to cramp? Are there any new asthma treatments in the pipeline? Are people getting vaccinated against cancer? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris answers listener questions including: what is the Higgs boson? How should I change my lifestyle to prevent diabetes? Why can you pass on yawns? Why does nerve pain/sciatica get worse when we're tired? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Cambridge University have informed us that, for cost cutting reasons, they intend to make Dr Chris Smith redundant. Naturally, this jeopardises the Naked Scientists programme, which is produced under his role. He will also lose his medical job. We regard this as a terrible decision and we intend to protest. Please listen to this short podcast to hear how you can help. Together we hope we can turn around this terrible decision... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith answers listener science questions. They include, is it worth getting the flu vaccine? Is COVID still around? Is it possible to manufacture a car that runs on air? Why does the hair on our head keep growing, but not on our arms and legs? Is it good to finish a shower with a cold burst? Why are marathon runners thin? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris with more answers to listener science questions: why was the discovery of the Higgs boson worthy of a Nobel Prize? Are birth rates falling around the world? How do we prevent HPV? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris answers listener questions including, how effective is the flu shot? Is there anything doctors don't want their patients to know? Do our eyes stay the same size through our lives? Could working in a dusty cement environment lead to health problems? When someone has dementia, how long will they live? Will doctors prescribe remedies purely to induce a placebo effect? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris answers questions on CapeTalk, including: how often should we wash our clothes? Is there a relationship between the Earth's gravity and magnetic field? Are the magnetic poles moving? Is there a distinction between North and South? Why don't adult teeth grow back like children's teeth? Can we reconcile science and spirituality? Why does my sister's car attract insects? What is the quickest way to lose weight in a short period of time? Is it true that our eyeballs stay the same size throughout our life? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why is February only 28 days long? Is there a link between red meat, testosterone, and male violence? Is there a 'best' LLM? Can macular degeneration cause you to go blind? What do we know about the big bang? What determines the speed of your internet? Does an autoimmune system attack random parts of the body? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists